Packaging

ABSTRACT

Packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile contents comprises an inner water-impermeable means for enclosing such material, and an outer container ( 1 ) comprising a base panel ( 2 ) from which a front panel ( 3 ), rear and side panels ( 4, 5 ) extend upwardly and a lid ( 6 ) hingedly fixed to the top of the rear panel ( 4 ) and giving a firm closure. The container has side vents ( 11 ) or other means giving provision for expansion.

The invention relates to packaging for moisture-sensitive material ormaterial containing volatile ingredients; in particular consumerproducts, such as water softeners or detergent compositions.

Commonly, moisture-sensitive materials, such as detergent material,enzymes, bleach systems or water-softening actives are found in consumerproducts e.g. powder, granules, tablets or other compositions that maybe contained in sachets (which sachets are either soluble or not), arepackaged in containers made of cardboard material with a lining ofwater-impermeable sheet material to protect the contents from absorptionof water from the atmosphere. However, the user has to make sure thatthe packaging is closed again after usage. If not, themoisture-sensitive material can chemically degrade potentially affectingthe activity of ingredients or suffer a negative impact on its physicalproperties (i.e. resistance, solubility, appearance etc). Additionally,there may be a substantial loss of volatile material such as perfumefrom the material, when the container is not tightly closed.

Although this negative impact of moisture ingress is undesirable ingeneral, it is particularly problematic in the case of products notindividually wrapped in a moisture isolating film or even worse in thecase of products packaged in permeable packaging such as water-solublemonodose sachets, for instance in PVOH sachets, or non-woven waterinsoluble sachets. Such water-soluble sachets can get sticky whenabsorbing water from the atmosphere, and can therefore adhere to eachother. When trying to separate such adhered sachets, the water-solublefilm material can be destroyed. Moreover, undesirable loss of water fromthe contents of some products may be another problem if they are notcontained in a watertight packaging, such as liquid containing consumerproducts with permeable membranes, e.g. air-fresheners. Many suchproducts are stored in cardboard boxes alone or with inner waterimpermeable sheets, but have little or no means for closing the box oncethe box is opened. Typically, if present, the box closure will be in theform of two flaps that can inter-engage, i.e. like a cereal box.

An aim of the present invention is therefore to provide packaging whichmay encourage the consumer to close the packaging and which may providesome moisture barrier properties. A further aim is to provide packagingwhich may facilitate access to the contents of the packaging, even ifthe contents are closely stacked within the packaging.

According to a first aspect the present invention there is providedpackaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containingvolatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an innerwater-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outercontainer comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear andside panels extend upwardly and a lid carried at the top of the rearpanel, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge with one ofa flexible flap or a lip and the front of the lid is provided with theother of an upstanding flexible flap or a lip and wherein said flap isarranged to engage with said lip to hold the lid in a closed position.

Suitably, the outer container comprises a rear panel and two sidepanels. The base panel may thus be generally rectangular. The outercontainer may alternatively comprise a generally triangular base paneland a single side panel such that the “rear” panel adjoins the frontpanel and the side panel. Alternatively, the outer container maycomprise more than two side panels.

Suitably, the side panels have expandable portions allowing the frontpanel to be moved from a closed position, in which it is held by thelid, to an open position, when the lid is opened, in which open positionit is further from the rear panel than the closed position.

Suitably, the front panel is provided at its upper edge with anupstanding flexible flap which is arranged to engage with a lip on thefront of the lid to hold the lid in a closed position.

Suitably, the inner water-impermeable means comprises a sheet forenclosing the moisture-sensitive material.

Suitably, the inner water-impermeable means comprises a waterimpermeable pack which may be formed from a sheet.

Suitably, the water-impermeable pack comprises a removable bag.

Suitably, the packaging comprises a packaging for moisture-sensitivematerial and comprises inner water-impermeable means for enclosing themoisture-sensitive material.

According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided packagingfor moisture-sensitive material, in particular consumer products, thepackaging comprising an inner water-impermeable sheet for enclosing themoisture-sensitive material, and an outer container comprising a basepanel from which a front panel, rear panel and two side panels extendupwardly and a lid carried by the top of the rear panel, wherein theside panels have expandable portions allowing the front panel to bemoved from a closed position in which it is held by the lid to an openposition when the lid is opened in which it is further from the rearpanel than the closed position, and wherein the front panel is providedat its upper edge with an upstanding flexible flap which is arranged toengage with a lip on the front of the lid to hold the lid in a closedposition.

According to another embodiment of the invention there is providedpackaging for moisture-sensitive material, in particular consumerproducts, the packaging comprising an inner water-impermeable sheet forenclosing the moisture-sensitive material, and an outer containercomprising a base panel from which a front panel, rear panel and twoside panels extend upwardly, and a lid carried by the top of the rearpanel, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge with anupstanding flexible flap which is arranged to engage with a lip on thefront of the lid to hold the lid in a closed position.

Suitably, the interengaging arrangement of flap and lip provides a“snap” closure which may be felt and/or heard by the consumer when thelid is fully closed. This suitably provides an agreeable feeling for theconsumer that serves to positively reinforce the need to close the lid.Also the mechanism suitably serves to positively retain the lid in placethereby preventing accidental opening and providing an impediment tomoisture ingress. The use of flexible side panels may allow the front ofthe box to be pulled forward thereby increasing the interior space ofthe box. This may provide improved access to the contents of the box ingeneral, and may be particularly useful if the contents of the packagingare closely stacked.

The expandable portions of the side panels may take the form of separatepanels of flexible material. However, preferably, they are provided byfolded portions which are arranged to unfold to a degree as the frontpanel is pulled forward.

Suitably the outer container is arranged such that the front panel canbe squeezed towards the rear panel to cause its upper edge to movetoward the rear panel such that the flap and lip can be brought out ofengagement with one another to allow the lid to open or be opened.

Suitably an outer container having two sides is arranged such that theside panels can be squeezed towards each other to cause its upper edgeto move toward the rear panel such that the flap and lip can be broughtout of engagement with one another to allow the lid to open or beopened.

Suitably, the outer container may comprise curved side and/or frontand/or rear and/or base panels. In particular, this feature may bepresent if the container does not have expanding sides.

Suitably, one or more of the front, rear, side or base panels areprovided with one or more curved edges. In such an embodiment it ispreferred that edges separating the front panel from two side panels arecurved. Preferably the other edges are straight.

Suitably, the outer container comprises a front panel which curves suchthat a portion of the front panel lies further from the rear panel thandoes the edge of the front panel which adjoins the base panel.

Preferably, the side panels may have a bevelled portion, adjacent theedges of the front panel, caused by distortion of the material of thecontainer.

Suitably the front panel may be caused to bulge outwardly, especially ata mid portion thereof.

Suitably, the front panel has a width in a side to side direction of thecontainer which decreases from the base towards a mid portion of thefront panel and which increases again towards an upper edge of the frontpanel opposed to the base. The front panel may thus have an “hour-glass”shape. The side panels may thus be caused to curve, for example bebevelled, at their join with the front panel.

Suitably, the front panel adjoins each side panel at a fold line createdin a sheet material from which the outer container is formed. In theembodiment just described the fold lines adjoining the front panel andthe side panels are curved; by means of the curved fold lines the frontpanel may bulge and the region of each side panel adjacent to the foldline may be bevelled.

Suitably, the outer container comprises a card material. Preferably itis a solid board box.

Suitably, the outer container is arranged such that, in use, the frontpanel may be depressed (i.e. the front panel may be squeezed towards therear panel), or the side walls be squeezed towards each other, to causethe container to deform such that the flap and lip may disengage tofacilitate opening of the lid. Preferably the outer container isdesigned such that when the flap and lip disengage, the lid risesautomatically i.e. without any need itself to be grasped.

The provision of curved side and/or front and/or rear panels and/oredges may allow for the inner water impermeable means to be readilyreceived within the outer container. For example, the innerwater-impermeable means may comprise a sealed packet housingwater-sensitive material and optionally a protective gas. The shape anddesign of the outer container may allow a greater degree of deformationof a corresponding container having a rectilinear form and this may makeit easier to insert the packet into the container. The non-rectilinearform may also reduce the likelihood of air becoming trapped between thepacket and base of the container and hindering the packets insertioninto the container.

The lid suitably has a downwardly depending rim or skirt bearing the lipor flap.

Preferably, the lid has a downwardly depending rim or skirt in which thelip is formed. The lip may be formed by any suitable means, such as anadditional component fixed to the lid, or a raised portion pressed intothe lid. However more preferably, the lip is formed by one or more flapswhich are extensions of one or more portions forming the rim of the lidwhich are folded into a position in which they form the lip.

Preferably, the flap has a curved configuration, arranged so that, uponopening of the lid, the curved flap is pulled by the lip into a moreplanar configuration before further movement of the lid causes itsdisengagement from the lip. This may provide a force against opening ofthe lid which initially increases on first movement of the lip and isthen quickly released. In the closed position, the flap is suitablyflattened by the lid against the front panel and normally curved natureof the flap causes it to exert a retaining force on the lid, which maythereby ensure that it maintains its engagement with the lip.

Suitably, the packaging houses moisture-sensitive material.

Suitably, the moisture sensitive material comprises a plurality ofdiscreet items. The moisture sensitive material may comprise a moisturesensitive composition provided in sachets for example.

Suitably, the moisture sensitive material contains water softeningingredients.

The inner water-impermeable means suitably comprises a sealed packet. Inuse, the packet may be breached and an item removed therefrom. Thepacket may subsequently have an opening through which water and inparticular atmospheric moisture can permeate. The construction of theouter container may though minimise the amount of atmospheric moisturewhich can travel to this opening. This may be because the constructionmay increase the likelihood of a consumer closing the lid and mayprovide an improved closure. Items remaining within the packet may thusbe better protected from atmospheric moisture than would otherwise bethe case.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is providedpackaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containingvolatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an innerwater-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outercontainer comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear andside panels extend upwardly and a lid at the top of the rear panel,wherein the front panel has inwardly curved edges, between the basepanel and its upper edge, wherein the front panel bulges forwardly atleast when the outer container contains said materials.

Preferably the lid is a flip-top lid, and most preferably (but notessentially, in this embodiment) a lid arranged to engage the frontpanel as described and defined above.

In other respects the preferred features of the packaging are asdescribed above.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided apackaged product comprising packaging according to the first aspect andmoisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredientshoused therein.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provideda method of protecting moisture-sensitive material or materialcontaining volatile ingredients, in particular consumer products,comprising storing the moisture sensitive material or materialcontaining volatile ingredients in packaging according to any earlieraspect.

Preferably, the method comprises protecting moisture-sensitive material.The method may for example comprise protecting material comprising watersoftening ingredients.

Suitably the method comprises storing the moisture sensitive material inpackaging comprising an inner water-impermeable sheet for enclosing themoisture-sensitive material, and an outer container comprising a basepanel from which a front panel, rear panel and two side panels extendupwardly, and a lid carried by the top of the rear panel, wherein thefront panel is provided at its upper edge with an upstanding flexibleflap which is arranged to engage with a lip on the front of the lid tohold the lid in a closed position.

The above method may additionally utilise packaging wherein the sidepanels have expandable portions allowing the front panel to be movedfrom a closed position in which it is held by the lid to an openposition when the lid is opened which is further from the rear panelthan the closed position.

Examples of packaging in accordance with the present invention will nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first example;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a second example with the lid closed;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the second example from the oppositeside with the lid open;

FIG. 2C is a plan view of the blank on which the box of the secondexample is formed;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a third example with the lid open;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the third example with the lid closed;

FIG. 3C is a front view of the third example; and

FIG. 3D is a side view of the third example.

The packaging of the present invention comprises an outer box 1 as shownin FIG. 1. This contains an inner water impermeable packaging (notshown) which will either contain all of the contents of the box, or willcontain individual products within the box. Alternatively, the contentsof the box may be divided between a number of inner packaging members.For example, in the case of sachets containing water-softening productsfor use in a washing machine, the sachets may be packaged in two waterimpermeable packs so that half of the contents of the packaging remainwithin a sealed water impermeable pack, while the contents of the otherpack are used.

The box 1 comprises a base panel 2 not visible in FIG. 1 as the box isstanding on the base panel. A front panel 3, rear panel 4 and two sidepanels 5 extend upwardly from the base panel 2 and are joined to oneanother as shown to form the body of the box. A lid 6 depends from thetop of the rear panel 4, the connection being a hinge formed by a foldline between the lid 6 and the rear panel 4. The lid has a downwardlydepending rim or skirt comprising a front rim panel 7 and two side rimpanels 8. The side rim panels 8 are provided with rim flaps 9 which arefolded under the front rim panel 7 and secured as shown so that theirtop edges form a lip 10 (in the manner also shown in FIGS. 2B and 3A).

Each of the side panels 5 is provided with a concertina portion 11formed by three fold lines 12 extending up the side panel. This allowsthe front panel 3 to be pulled forwardly from its closed position.

A flexible flap 13 curves upwardly and outwardly from the top of thefront panel 3.

In order to close the box, the front panel 3 is pushed toward the rearpanel 4 compressing the concertina portions. The lid is then closed.Alternatively the lid may be closed and thus may draw the front panel 3back towards the rear panel 4. In either case, as closure takes placethe front rim panel 7 pushes a flexible flap 13 towards the front panel3 until the free edge 14 of the flexible flap 13 passes the lip 10 whenthe resilience of the flexible flap provides a snap fit with the lip 10.This provides a biasing force to hold the lid 6 closed.

When the lid is lifted to open the container, the flexible flap 13 isinitially pulled up with the lid 6 as the free edge 14 of the flexibleflap 13 is still engaged with the lip 10. This initial movement deformsthe flexible flap 13 from its curved configuration to a more planarconfiguration until the free edge 14 moves out of engagement with thelip 10, whereupon the lid is free to open further. The front panel 3will then either move forward of its own accord or can be pulled forwardin order to facilitate access to the contents of the box.

FIGS. 2A-2C disclose a second example of the present invention. In mostrespects, this is the same as the first example, although the concertinaportions 11 in the side panels 5 have been replaced by fold lines 20which allow the side panels to bulge outwardly when the container isopen. Not only does this provide better access to the contents of thebox as the front panel is pulled forward, but also provides an increasein the width of the box thereby further facilitating access. As shown inFIG. 2A, the side panels 5 can be moved inwardly to allow the lid 6 toclose. Also as shown in FIG. 2A the front panel 3 bulges outward, beingslightly convex as viewed.

FIG. 2C shows a blank from which the box is formed. It will beappreciated that the example of FIG. 1 is formed from a similar blankwith modifications for the concertina portions 11. The assembly of thebox from the blank will be readily apparent from FIG. 2C as the box issimply folded up in a normal manner and flaps 21 are bonded to thevarious panels to form the finished box.

Of note in FIG. 2C are the rim flaps 9 extending from the side rimpanels 8. These are folded into position as shown in FIG. 2B to form thelip 10. As an alternative to or in addition to these side rim panels 9,the front rim panel 7 could be provided with a lip panel extending fromits free edge (i.e. above the panel 7 as shown in FIG. 2C) which is thenfolded back onto the front lid panel 7 to form the lip 10.

FIGS. 3A-3D disclose a third example of the present invention. In mostrespects, this is the same as the second example, but the side panels donot share the same expanding feature. Instead, the outer box 1 comprisescurved fold lines separating the front panel 3 and side panels 5.

Each junction between the front panel 3 and a side panel 5 is in factconstituted by a curved fold line 30 and a curved pseudo-fold line 32.Line 32 is not formed by folding but by distortion arising from thedesign of the container. Each pair of curved fold line 30 and curvedpseudo-fold line 33 comes together at their bottom (coincident with thebase panel) and top (somewhat short of the top of the front panel andside panel, that region being constituted by a straight fold line 34between the panels) to define a lenticular-shaped bevel 36, which is asurface oblique to the adjacent front and side panels.

The fold lines 30 forming the edges of the front panel 3 converge fromits base towards its mid portion and diverge again towards the upperedge of the panel giving the front panel 3 an “hour glass” shape as bestillustrated by FIG. 3C. The fold lines 32 forming the edges of the sidepanels 5 adjacent the front panel also curve inwardly in the mid portionof said side panels. The bevel between the fold lines 30 and 32 isoblique to the front panel 3 and the respective side panel 5. Thesefeatures result in the front panel 3 bulging away from the rear panel 4at a mid portion of the panel as best illustrated by FIG. 3D.

The outer box 1 contains an inner water-impermeable means (not shown)which comprises two water tight packets. These packets house watersensitive material. The curved form of the outer box 1 may provide for adegree of deformation for both the outer box 1 and the packets (notshown) such that the packets may be easily located in the box 1.

In use, depression of the bulge in the front panel 3 with the lid closedmay cause the flap 13 to move relative to rim flaps 9, which provide alip 10, such that the flap 13 and lip 10 disengage allowing the lid 6 tobe conveniently moved to an open position.

1. Packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containingvolatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an innerwater-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outercontainer comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear andside panels extend upwardly and a lid hingedly carried at the top of therear panel, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge withone of a flexible flap or a lip and the front of the lid is providedwith the other of an upstanding flexible flap or a lip and wherein saidflap is arranged to engage with said lip to hold the lid in a closedposition, wherein the front panel bulges forwardly.
 2. Packagingaccording to claim 1, and which is expandable on insertion of saidmaterials.
 3. Packaging according to claim 2, wherein the front panel isdisplaceable on insertion of ingredients, to bulge, or bulge more,forwardly.
 4. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein thefront panel has inwardly curved edges, between the base panel and itsupper edge.
 5. Packaging according to claim 4, wherein the side panel isbevelled adjacent to the inwardly curved edges of front panel. 6.Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the front panel in its closedposition, in which it is held by the lid, is closer to the rear panelthan it is in the open position, in which the lid is displaced. 7.Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the front panel isprovided at its upper edge with the flap and the lid is provided withthe lip.
 8. Packaging according to claim 7, wherein the lid has adownwardly depending rim or skirt in which the lip is formed. 9.Packaging according to claim 8, wherein the lip is formed by one or moreflaps which are extensions of one or more portions forming the rim ofthe lid which are folded into a position in which they form the lip. 10.Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flaphas a curved configuration, arranged so that, upon opening of the lid,the curved flap is pulled by the lip into a more planar configurationbefore further movement of the lid causes its disengagement from thelip.
 11. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the outercontainer is arranged such that the front panel can be squeezed towardsthe rear panel to cause its upper edge to move toward the rear panelsuch that the flap and lip can be brought out of engagement with oneanother to cause the lid to open, or allow the lid to be opened. 12.Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer containeris arranged such that the side panels can be squeezed towards each othersuch that the flap and lip can be brought out of engagement with oneanother to cause the lid to open, or allow the lid to be opened. 13.Packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containingvolatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an innerwater-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outercontainer comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear andside panels extend upwardly and a lid at the top of the rear panel,wherein the front panel has inwardly curved edges, between the basepanel and its upper edge, wherein the front panel bulges forwardly atleast when the outer container contains said materials.
 14. A packagedproduct comprising packaging according to any preceding claim, andmoisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredientshoused therein.
 15. Use of packaging according to any of claims 1 to 14for packaging moisture-sensitive material or material containingvolatile ingredients.
 16. Use of packaging according to any of claims 1to 13 for packaging sachets containing water softening ingredients. 17.A method of protecting moisture-sensitive material or materialcontaining volatile ingredients, comprising storing themoisture-sensitive material or material comprising volatile ingredientsin packaging according to any of claims 1 to 13.